Officials plan MN disaster aid briefings

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- State and federal officials are fanning out this week across 18 Minnesota counties for briefings with local leaders about available aid to recover from severe storms in late June.

The contingent from Minnesota's Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management will be joined by representatives of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. They're conducting the briefings about how to apply for aid now that a formal disaster has been declared.

The briefings aren't designed for individual residents. They are for local government, school and nonprofit entities coping with damage from high winds and heavy rains.

There have been discussions at the state Capitol about the possibility of a special legislative session to authorize needed matching money. The state might have to put up $4.5 million to free up the federal pot.